Law enforcement campaign targets unlicensed vehicles in Sittwe

By DMG 26 Aug 2022

DMG Newsroom
26 August 2022, Sittwe

Traffic police in the Arakan State capital Sittwe have begun confiscating unlicensed vehicles since Thursday, according to a traffic police officer.

The Arakan State traffic police force and the Road Transport Administration Department are making arrests at the instruction of the military regime’s Arakan State-level administrative council.

“Teams comprising officials from different departments will carry out checks on vehicles, and concerned departments will take punitive action in line with existing law. As we have only started it today, details are still unknown,” said the traffic police officer.

Transport Minister Colonel Thet Lwin of the Arakan State administration council said: “Under the Automobile Law, all motorised vehicles that drive on public roads must have a licence. We have relaxed the regulations due to various reasons, but we will make arrests now. There are no exceptions. We will seize any unlicensed vehicle that drives on the streets.”

The military government has decided to take action against unlicensed vehicles because victims of traffic accidents are disproportionately likely to be involved in accidents involving unlicensed vehicles.

Most of the unlicensed vehicles driving Sittwe’s streets are owned by Buddhist monks and government departments, said a driver who did not want to be named.

“Ordinary people usually don’t drive unlicensed vehicles. Mostly, vehicles owned by departmental officials and monasteries are not licensed. And they usually keep unlicensed vehicles in their garages on days when checks are made. Even we know in advance when checks will be made,” said the driver, who suggested conducting surprise checks instead.

Some Sittwe residents have suggested that the state administration council should carry out education campaigns first rather than immediately moving to bring legal consequences to unlicensed drivers.

Three unlicensed vehicles were seized as public property on Thursday.